Major Intervention

Hello all.....I need tough love right now to get me back on track.  Ok I've been  post op for over a year and I went from a size 20 to a size 12 (the size I always wanted to be).  I've noticed that I've been eating more frequently now. I mean I can't eat alot at all but I graze through out the day.  I eat grapes like it's going out of style but my major problem is the sweets.  Yes people I don't dump for some odd reason. I guess I'm in that percentile that the dumping syndrome seems not to happen to.  Please give me tough love.  I don't want to go back being the size 20 I use to be. I know this and keep saying it to myself but I need more people to tell me.  What are some things that I can do to curb this.  I was even thinking about taking (dreadful...) diet pills.  I know...I know....not good but it keeps coming to  my mind.

HELP ME!!!!!!!!

Hiya - are you gaining from having these extra sweets?  I had noticed that I hit the candy dish a few too many times myself for awhile.  When I noticed a small gain, I decided I had been through too much to go back to the old ways and gave them up (actually occurred during the beginning of Lent ~ gave the candy up completely for Lent - maybe made it easier?)  What I did was focus on more protein and less carbs.  Protein keeps you fuller and less likely to snack or graze.  In the past I've read the Dr. Atkins diet book - I believe he knew the solution - the more carbs you have the more you crave them.  I cleansed myself of the added bad carbs. 

There is no magic bullet - but recognizing that you are eating these too often is a step in the right direction.

Good Luck to you!

Pam

I haven't gained any weight yet.  I'm trying to avoid that cause i know once that starts happening it's downhill from there.  I don't know. I think I've become comfortable and because of that I'm not making that extra effort to do "right".

Hi there,   first you are doing the right thing by taking notice to some of the habits your picking up.  Pam is right about eating more  protein and all.  The other thing that should help is getting out and getting more active.  You didn't say whether you are doing any exercise, but if not, that would be a good place to start.  The weather is getting nicer so now would be a good time to start something.  If you like to walk, there is some terrific parks here.  There is sports.  If you like soccer, there is Rhode Island Indoor Sports that has soccer teams for women of different ages ( my sister in law is 40 and plays on Tuesday nights and Saturday nights).  Just something different.  But getting active will help curb you wanting to eat the wrong foods.  I am sure you will get more ideas from our family here at OH.  Good luck and let us know how you are doing.     Eldy

Have you tried eating 6 small meals a day?       It should make you feel fuller for longer that way.
Diet pills are not the answer- we have all been there, but you have the strength to make this work without the pills :)

OK, here is some tough love...keep up the snacking and I will send you all my size 20's that I am just leaving...now in size 18's from size 28's....yes, 18s are not far from 20's, but I am hoping to be in a 16 before May 1st

Remember what Dr. Pohl told us...this is JUST A TOOL, it is not a cure all. Maybe you need to tune up your tool. Go back to drinking shakes 2-3 X's with 1 small meal. Before surgery (Oct 1) I would weigh my meats, gave up all breads and milk, and never weighted or measured my vegetables....I lost 30 lbs before the surgery. Since surgery I have lost another 62 lbs. Sometimes it seems like I get stuck, so I go back to shakes for  a few days to a week to help me jump start. Julie N would tell you to write everything down...and that REALLY helps!

Good luck! Hopefully I can pass on my size 20's to someone else!
~Ruth

Well, it seems to me that you are already getting yourself back on track my posting here.

Here are a few questions for you...

Are you going to support group meetings?

Are you exercising?

Are you journaling your food and exercise?

Are you taking emotional care of yourself? Is there a trigger that's making you graze, especially on sweets?

My suggestions would be...

Start going to support group meetings in your area. Seriously, even if it's just to sit in a corner and just listen. It may help center you and bring your mindset back to where you want it to be.

You know all about it. Calories in, calories out...yadda, yadda. Besides that...exercise helps us have a sense of well-being. Makes us stronger on the inside (strong enough to say NO to the sweets).

Journaling sucks for most of us and is time consuming. That being said, it also keeps us aware of what we are putting into our bodies. And when that yummy 'no-no food' is calling our name, we know we have to write it down later. And when we write it down later, we feel awful about having to do so. It really does help remind us about how we are going to feel about that yummy at the end of the day. Not just how we really, really want it right now.

Part of what made most of us obese in the first place was the emotional side of our lives. I notice that when I'm not centered, the 'bad' food becomes MORE centered. Step back and take a look at the whole picture.

I think once many of us reach 'goal' we try to be as 'normal' as possible. This, unfortunately, can mean over indulgence with food.

You KNOW what YOU need to do! And you, obviously, know the diet pills are not only bad but they are not the answer. They are a tool! YOU have a tool! You just need to start using it again!

I'm not saying start at week one. I'm saying start following the pouch rules! So, physically, you don't dump...so what. You're dumping emotionally! Guilt is a great motivator! Use it to your advantage!

There's a great meeting at Roger Williams in Providence that's geared toward us post-ops on Wednesday, April 15th. 7-9 pm. This month our guest is a therapist who will talk about body image after weight loss surgery. I'm sure she can help with a lot of other questions too!

Email me, below, for more info. Or, if you need anothe kick in the arse!

Happy to see you here! Keep coming around, k?

Jules